File Transfer

• Accounted for about 50% of network traffic in 1993
• All platforms: ftp (file transfer program).
  • Opens two connections with remote server:
    1. Control
    2. File transfer
  • Do not forget to use binary mode when transferring non-text files
• UNIX: ftptool (Sun), mail, rcp
• Mac: Fetch (Dartmouth), NCSA Telnet (ftp mode)
• ftp by email: send message containing help to: bitftp@pucc.princeton.edu or ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com
• All platforms: kermit (old faithful)
• Retrieved files often require decompression & decoding
• Standard file name extensions often help identify file type

Archie: An Index of ftp Sites

• Soon began choking on its own success (poor scalability)
• Command-line archie (one query only)
• Use telnet to connect to an archie server (interactive) quiche.cs.mcgill.ca, archie.mcgill.ca, archie.rutgers.edu, archie.sura.net, archie.ans.net, archie.unl.edu, archie.rutgers.edu, archie.ans.net, archie.au, archie.funet.fi, archie.doc.ic.ac.uk
• Use xarchie (X windows interactive client)
• Via email (often advisable; other means can be slow!) For information, send mail with help in body to: archie@ans.net